City Council tourism panel says Fall River must do more to attract attention to waterfront

It was an old tune delivered with conviction and questions at a recent City Council Economic Development and Tourism Committee meeting: The public is hungry for waterfront growth, but essential ingredients remain missing.

It was an old tune delivered with conviction and questions at a recent City Council Economic Development and Tourism Committee meeting: The public is hungry for waterfront growth, but essential ingredients remain missing.

“It’s up to us to do a better job,” said Councilor David Dennis, committee chairman.

“I’m still advocating for a tourism director full time,” Dennis said.

Joined by two leaders from Battleship Cove — board of directors President Carl Sawejko and director of finance David Keyes — the discussion centered on Dennis’ request more than a year ago to form a waterfront commission or coalition.

Sawejko, presenting his outlook at length, called the city’s expansive waterfront “a gathering place … where people can get together and feel better about themselves.”

“We don’t take advantage of it. We don’t get them into the city,” Sawejko said.

He said the $200 million Route 79/Interstate 195 bridge and viaduct project to tear down the spaghetti ramps and create a connecting boulevard should enhance prospects. He predicted that, with better outreach, 160,000 visitors would head to Battleship Cove to learn more about and experience the nautical history of veterans, including, for instance, a staff interview with Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.

Sawejko agreed with Dennis “a full-time tourism director would make a difference.”

Poulin took a stab at an ongoing and perplexing use of Heritage State Park.

He questioned the lack of access to the visitor center, lack of activity and lack of vendors despite last year’s City Council ordinance designating pushcart rules.

He said it was confusing when the visitor center was open, while questioning why the Friends of Heritage State Park retain what Poulin called “exclusive rights” to concessions.

With the state Department of Conservation and Recreation headed by former city Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr., Poulin, a former aide to Lambert, said city officials should discuss possible improvements.

At one point Poulin suggested “building a shack” in the area to pass out informational brochures of events and destinations in and around the waterfront.